Pedicure Saboteurs (and How to Avoid Them)

If you're like, oh, everyone else, you probably have a pedicure right now. And if you're really like everyone else, it's probably also at least a little bit chipped. Even if it's only a week old. And for good reason: Sneaky saboteurs can ruin your pedicure before you even open your nail polish. But once you know what they are, it's easy(ish) to avoid them.

1. You didn't know rubbing alcohol was part of a pedicure. We know, it sounds weird. But rubbing alcohol dries out oils. And the oils that nail polish leaves behind—and even the oils that your nails produce naturally—cause polish on top to chip. Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and wipe down each nail, and your pedicure will last longer.

2. You keep your polish in your bathroom. Rookie move. When you shower, your bathroom probably gets hot and muggy. And heat doesn't just make your polish globby; it also causes pigments to separate. Stash your polish in a cooler room (or even the refrigerator) and your pedicure will be more even and last longer, says Jin Soon Choi, a manicurist and founder of Jin Soon Nail Collection.

3. You forgot your nails need sun protection, too. The UV blockers in sunscreen turn your polish yellow, so wipe your nails with a beach towel after you lotion up. Then, apply a topcoat that contains ingredients like benzophenone-1 and octocrylene, which absorb UV light. The good news is you don't have to remember those long names, because they're in most topcoats. The bad news is they break down over time. But swipe on a topcoat every few days, and you're covered.